Work
Theory of change
Studies have shown that a relatively small number of high-emission point sources – also referred to as super-emitters – can have a disproportionate impact on regional methane emissions. With more frequent monitoring, we can find and address these large sources to quickly and efficiently reduce methane and CO2 emissions.
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions across sectors requires continued monitoring and an understanding of the challenges to successful mitigation. Detecting, pinpointing, and quantifying emissions can provide industry operators and policymakers the information they need to guide decision-making. This is a goal we’re proud to advance each day.
Our priorities
We're focused on four key priorities: Filling data gaps, advancing scientific understanding, driving mitigation through collaboration, and advancing education and insights on emissions data.
Data
Filling data gaps in methane and CO₂ emissions with remote airborne and satellite observations.
Science
Advancing scientific understanding of super-emitters by using remote sensing to measure and monitor methane and CO₂.
Mitigation
Driving mitigation through collaboration with industry, nonprofits, policymakers, and other stakeholders to build technical capacity and develop emission mitigation solutions.
Education and insights
Apply our expertise in interpreting and translating our findings and offer policy-relevant insights and tools to support understanding and application of remote sensing emissions data.
How Carbon Mapper fits into the landscape
There is a growing ecosystem of monitoring technologies, tools and organizations that are providing more transparent and accurate methane emissions data to drive action.
These types of monitoring range from tools that provide greater visibility into the aggregated totals of methane over wide areas to tools that focus on pinpoint some of the largest — and mitigable — emission events at their source. No one technology can see all emissions. A portfolio of technologies and approaches, including ground, airborne, and satellite observation tools, is needed to provide society with a complete picture of global emissions.
Carbon Mapper is contributing to this ecosystem by identifying emissions down to the scale of individual facilities and equipment and providing direct mitigation guidance to operators and decision makers who are implementing solutions on the ground. We do this through our unique coalition to develop and deploy methane sensing satellites by making our data accessible and actionable, and working with stakeholders to drive emissions reductions.
Ultimately, our goal at Carbon Mapper is to provide sustained monitoring of up to 90% of methane and CO2 super-emitters globally via a satellite constellation.
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Leveraging emissions data
Carbon Mapper data can also be used, alongside other data sources to help improve emissions accounting. We work closely with organizations and initiatives that are tackling different parts of the methane and CO2 measurement and monitoring challenge to complement monitoring, increase coverage, and maximize impact.
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Sectors of focus
Our efforts focus on industrial sectors where frequent high emission methane and CO2 point sources are found including oil and gas, coal, electricity generation, waste, and large livestock operations.
Science and technology
Our science and research team is at the forefront of using remote sensing to detect, pinpoint and quantify methane and CO2 emissions. Leveraging deep technical expertise and a long history of research, we work to enable science-based action through transparent and credible methods published in peer-reviewed literature.
Impact
Our impacts range from advancing data accessibility and groundbreaking science to driving mitigation actions that reduce harmful methane and CO2 emissions.